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Summary
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<H2 CLASS="section"><A NAME="htoc60">6.1</A>&nbsp;&nbsp;Summary</H2>
The ECL<SUP><I>i</I></SUP>PS<SUP><I>e</I></SUP> compiler compiles ECL<SUP><I>i</I></SUP>PS<SUP><I>e</I></SUP> source (or Prolog source in
various dialects) into the instructions of an abstract machine, which
are then executed by an emulator.<BR>
<BR>
Program source can either be read in text form from files, console,
strings and general input streams. Alternatively, it can be provided
in the form of a data structure (list of clause terms).<BR>
<BR>
The smallest program unit the compiler can meaningfully process is a
predicate. In practice it is best to compile modules as a whole, since
this allows for better consistency checks.<BR>
<BR>
Usually, the generated code is immediately loaded into main memory and
ready for execution.
This method is the most convenient during program development.
In addition, compiled code can be output to a file (ECL<SUP><I>i</I></SUP>PS<SUP><I>e</I></SUP>
object format, or <I>eco</I>), from which it can later be loaded more quickly.<BR>
<BR>
Compiled code optionally contains debugging information, allowing a
source-oriented trace of program execution.<BR>
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